TURKEY PROVIDES PKK WISH LIST; CONFIRMS READY FOR

S E C R E T ANKARA 004451 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2031 TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS TU IZ SUBJECT: TURKEY PROVIDES PKK WISH LIST; CONFIRMS READY FOR TRILATERAL TALKS Classified By: Charge Nancy McEldowney, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: Deputy Foreign Minister Tuygan presented to Charge on Aug. 2 the GOT list of requested actions to be taken against the PKK before and after a trilateral meeting with the US and Iraq. Tuygan expressed Turkey's readiness to meet bilaterally in a neutral location the week of Aug. 7 to discuss the way forward, but emphasized the need for the subsequent Trilateral meeting to achieve results. The MFA will take the lead for Turkey, represented by Deputy U/S Akgunay. Tuygan said a meeting with a combined KDP/PUK delegation before the trilateral dialogue would not be productive. The complete action list is contained at para. ¶6. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (S) Deputy FM Tuygan on Aug. 2 presented Charge with a two-part list of "Measures To Be Adopted To Terminate PKK/KONGRA-GEL Activities in Northern Iraq." The first section contains five steps to be taken in advance of a trilateral meeting, such as GOI proclamation of the PKK as a terrorist organization. ¶3. (S) The second section contains a list of measures to be adopted following the Trilateral talks. Tuygan said Turkey expects the first two items -- implementation of four steps pledged by Iraqi President Talabani and the establishment of a PKK-free buffer zone along the Iraq/Turkey border -- to be achieved within a few weeks after the trilateral talks. Charge noted our understanding that the Iraqis have been working to implement the steps promised by Talabani, including the closure of PKK front offices. Tuygan said the MFA is waiting for confirmation that the Ocalan Culture Center has been closed, adding that Turkey would know the moment this takes place. Regarding the proposed buffer zone monitoring, Tuygan said the GOT had not yet determined the modalities of the proposed "joint verification." ¶4. (S) Tuygan said Turkey would like a bilateral meeting with the US in a neutral location to discuss the way forward. He suggested Geneva due to its size and lack of significant Turkish media presence. Turkey could be ready to talk towards the end of the week of Aug. 7, he said, but emphasized that the timing of the meeting is less important than that the meeting be well-prepared and achieve a clear path forward. The GOT is ready to meet at US discretion. Charge said the US is hoping to appoint a senior envoy who has the ability to deal with multiple agencies to achieve our goals in the near term. Tuygan responded that FM Gul heads Turkey's newly-created High Council for the Combat Against Terrorism and the MFA will take the lead for Turkey in the Trilateral talks, led by Deputy Undersecretary for International Security Affairs Rafet Akgunay. ¶5. (S) Charge noted the Iraqi offer to send a joint KDP/PUK visit to Turkey and asked about a GOT meeting with the delegation. Tuygan characterized such a meeting in advance of the Trilateral talks as unproductive. He reiterated the necessity of having the meeting produce concrete positive results and added that the GOT will look for a reduction in PKK terrorist activity during the Trilateral process. ¶6. (S) BEGIN TEXT OF MFA LIST: 01 August, 2006 MEASURES TO BE ADOPTED TO TERMINATE PKK/KONGRA-GEL ACTIVITIES IN NORTHERN IRAQ Steps to be taken prior to the Trilateral Talks -------------- -- a. Proclamation of the PKK/KONGRA-GEL as a terrorist organization by the Iraqi Government. b. Joint declaration defining the objective of the trilateral talks as "terminating the terrorist activities and presence of the PKK/KONGRA-GEL in northern Iraq." c. Prevention of the Kurdish regional authorities from making provocative and inflammatory pro-PKK statements. d. Declaration by the US to the effect that the PKK/KONGRA-GEL not only poses a threat to the future security of Iraq, but will also seriously jeopardize Iraq's bilateral relations with its neighbors as well as regional peace and stability. e. Proclamation of the PCDK (DCP and HAW-PAR 2002) as affiliated formation of the PKK/KONGRA-GEL in Iraq by the US. Measures to be adopted as an outcome of the Trilateral Talks -------------- -------------- a. Full implementation of the pledge made by President Talabani regarding the PKK. Accordingly: i. The KDP and the PUK will issue a warning to the PKK calling on it to disarm immediately, ii. The PKK's ability to mobilize itself in northern Iraq will be curtailed, iii. Security forces will be deployed to the areas of PKK activity, iv. PKK affiliated parties and other such formations as the PCDK, DCP, HAW-PAR will be shut down. b. Permanent elimination of the PKK's presence in areas adjacent to the Turkish-Iraqi border and joint verification. (see details in annex) c. Elimination of all PKK camps in northern Iraq and the prevention of their reinstatement by the terrorist organization. d. Control of all routes of access to the PKK camps by the Iraqi security forces. e. Revocation of all travel passes issued by the Kurdish groups to the members of the PKK. f. Extradition to the country of origin of PKK terrorists detained during security checks and the prosecution of those of Iraqi nationality. g. Extradition to Turkey of the PKK leaders in northern Iraq, the list of which was submitted to the Iraqi authorities together with copies of INTERPOL arrest warrants. h. Immediate extradition to Turkey of terrorists who have deserted the PKK and surrendered to the Kurdish groups, denial of job opportunities for such terrorists and the prevention of their re-recruitment by the PKK. i. Prevention of the PKK's propaganda activities geared towards the recruitment of Turkish students enrolled in Iraqi universities. j. Extradition to Turkey of PKK terrorists of Turkish origin undergoing treatment in Iraqi hospitals. k. Intensive security measures for Turkish trucks transporting goods to Iraq. l. Prohibition of the PKK's organized crime activities such as drug and human trafficking, etc. m. Detainment of individuals entering Iraq, by legal or illegal means, to enlist in the PKK and the enforcement of strict border controls at Erbil Airport to prevent the entry into Iraq of PKK elements from Europe. n. Effective termination of the logistic support from which PKK elements benefit in Iraq. o. Prohibition of the PKK's media activities for propaganda purposes in northern Iraq. p. Prevention of the flow of financial assets from the PKK in Europe to Iraq with the technical support and intelligence provided by the US and the establishment by the Iraqi Government of effective control mechanisms on illegal financial transactions by banks or other means. q. Conclusion of the draft Agreement on Combating Terrorism submitted to the Iraqi Government. r. Full support to the initiatives of the UNHCR to close the Makhmour Camp. s. Conduct of joint activities/operations, if and when necessary, by the Turkish and Iraqi security forces to ensure the security of the Turkish-Iraqi border. t. Resort to military action against the PKK by the Iraqi security forces unilaterally or in conjunction with US forces, particularly to close the PKK camps, in the event that the short term measures against the PKK/KONGRA-GEL do not yield the desired results. Follow-up of the implementation of these measures will be ensured through - A trilateral sub-committee to be established at technical level, - A trilateral Coordination Center to be set up in Iraq or Turkey, - A bilateral or trilateral intelligence sharing platform to be instituted between Turkey-Iraq or Turkey-Iraq-the US, in addition to the existing mechanisms between Turkey and the US. END TEXT. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ MCELDOWNEY